Significance of Ahara
Synonyms: Diet, Nourishment, Food intake, Cuisine, Sustenance, Meal, Provision, Food, Provisions
In Dutch: Ahara; In German: Ahara; In Finnish: Ahara; In Spanish: Ahara; In Swedish: Ahara; In Malay: Ahara; In French: Ahara; In Portugese: Ahara; In Italian: Ahara; In Polish: Ahara
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Ahara'
In Buddhism, Ahara encompasses sustenance for body and mind. It includes three foods that maintain consciousness, the nutritive essence from food, and oja, the essence from tastes. Ahara nourishes and contributes to physical and mental development.
From: Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
(1) Ahara, alongside kamma, citta, and utu, is one of the fundamental causes and conditions that contribute to the formation of rupa, the physical aspect of existence.[1] (2) This is another term for oja, the essence derived from different tastes, and is essential for the body's sustenance and overall growth within the body.[2]
From: Patthanuddesa Dipani
(1) Ahara is a causal relation of nutriment or support, providing essential conditions for the existence and sustenance of phenomena, and it is common to all mental states.[3] (2) It is food; one of the 24 species of relations.[4] (3) The text references the three foods, which are understood as the relations of this term, contributing to the maintenance of consciousness.[5]
From: Patthana Dhamma
(1) This refers to the nutriment or sustenance, whether material or mental, that is required to support the continuation of material processes.[6]
From: A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada
(1) Nutriment, one of the origins of physical phenomena, distinct from citta, kamma, and utu (heat).[7]
From: A Manual of Abhidhamma
(1) Sustenance, indicating various forms of nourishment for both the physical body and mental states.[8] (2) Áhara means food or the nutritive essence in food that contributes to the development of material phenomena.[9]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) Ahara, or food, was among the excellent gifts that Velama distributed, including garments, seats, and medicines, to those who came to his house.[10]
Hindu concept of 'Ahara'
In Hinduism, Ahara, or diet, encompasses food and dietary habits. It is a fundamental pillar of life, essential for health, strength, and disease prevention. Ahara influences digestion, supports bodily functions, and is crucial in various treatment protocols, including those for specific health conditions and overall well-being.
From: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
(1) This category encompasses the dietary habits of the patient, including the daily consumption of dry grains like wheat and barley in forms such as biscuits and bread, which are identified as etiological factors.[11] (2) Ahara pertains to the dietary recommendations within the Ayurvedic system, and providing individualized guidelines regarding Ahara is made more effective by first considering the patient's specific Deha Prakruti.[12] (3) It is considered as a supreme medicine within the Ayurvedic system, and following its associated healthy dietetic rules assists significantly in the protection of well-being and the successful remediation of various ailments afflicting the body.[13] (4) Ahara, or Anna, which means diet, helps maintain health through proper metabolism, and its proper use is important in Ayurveda.[14] (5) Ahara refers to the diet and dietary restrictions that patients were advised to follow during the treatment period, emphasizing the importance of dietary considerations in conjunction with Ayurvedic medicines.[15]
From: International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga
(1) Considered the first of the three pillars in Ayurveda, it refers to food and its importance as a nutritional source.[16] (2) Important for one’s health and nutrition plays a vital role in the care of post-COVID 19 patients to recover lost strength.[17] (3) It is the most essential demand necessary for the sustenance of human life, acting as a spur for body development, transformation and health maintenance.[18] (4) It includes things like drinking plenty of water, eating fibrous diet, fruits, green vegetables, garlic, meat soup, and rice water.[19] (5) One of the Trayopasthamba, referring to meal, and is one of the three supporting pillars, according to the text.[20]
From: Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine
(1) This refers to a diet, and there are specific dietary precautions that are sufficient in terms of prevention of infection.[21] (2) This term signifies diet or food, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the physiological functioning of the body and balancing the Doshas, as described within the context of traditional Indian medical practices, according to the provided text.[22]
From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Ahara stands for what is presented, specifically the cognition of sound and other objects for the purpose of being experienced.[23]
Jain concept of 'Ahara'
In Jainism, Ahara signifies the essential consumables vital for jivas, or living beings. These necessities are crucial for the jivas' progression and development, enabling them to advance toward their subsequent rebirth.
From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
(1) Ahara refers to victuals or food, and when qualified by terms like sacitta, sambandha, sammishra, abhishava, and duhpakva, it denotes specific transgressions.[24]
From: Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
(1) Refers to the necessary consumables for jivas, essential for their development towards their next birth.[25]
The concept of Ahara in local and regional sources
Ahara encompasses both mental and physical sustenance. It signifies thoughts, which, when purified, lead to a pure Sattva. Additionally, Ahara represents food and livelihood, the essential elements that sustain life.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) This term is generally translated as food, but it can also mean that which is gathered in, referring to the knowledge of sensations acquired for self-enjoyment.[26] (2) Ahara is a term that means thought collected in the mind, and when it becomes pure, the Sattva becomes pure, according to Shankaracharya, and it is connected to food.[27]
From: Gommatsara by Acharya Nemichandra
(1) Ahara is one of the four types of charity, specifically referring to the donation of food.[28]
From: Sanskrit Words In Southeast Asian Languages
(1) This refers to food or livelihood, representing the sustenance and means of support for life.[29]
The concept of Ahara in scientific sources
Ahara, in Ayurveda, encompasses food and dietary practices. It's a fundamental pillar of health, influencing overall wellness, disease management, and individual needs. Ahara involves nourishment, impacting Agni, doshas, and tissue nutrition, while also considering seasonal and lifestyle factors for optimal well-being.
From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
(1) According to the text, ahara (food) creates our body, and whatever our body, it’s created by our ahara, whatever we are taking, it converts it into our body, and it nourishes our mind.[30]